Almost all mock drafts these days have the Atlanta Falcons drafting Alabama edge-rusher Dallas Turner with the eighth-overall pick. The Morning Shift debated whether or not that would be the right choice for Terry Fontenot, Raheem Morris, and the Falcons.
Beau and Tiffany are on the side of if Dallas Turner becomes a player who gives the Falcons 10 sacks a season, is also able to effect the game in other ways, and is a Micah Parsons-type player that makes him a great pick for the Falcons at 8.
However, Mike, who is just playing devil’s advocate, makes the point that if the Falcons are drafting an edge-rusher at 8 then that guy needs to help this team take the sack numbers to the next level.
“If you’re going to draft a guy at 8 and he is an edge guy it needs to be the next level on the sacks," Johnson said. "And I understand that sometimes he benefits your defense in other ways, but beneficial defenders that play outside linebacker and can go into the flat can be found at 15, 20, or the second round.”
Mike also says that if the Falcons draft Turner with the eighth-overall pick then “he has to be the guy that sacks the quarterback at number 8.” Tiffany then went on to say “but maybe he doesn’t in this defense”, and then Mike responded to Tiffany by saying “well then we don’t need to take him at 8.”
Beau then went on to pull the stat that you see below, and explained why if the Falcons believe Turner is the best fit for this defense they need to draft him period.
“Get who fits what you want to do," Morgan said. "If you think an All-Pro talent is there and it fits exactly what you want to do and you can make him that based on his talents and your scheme, go.”
Seeing that stat about Morris’ defense last season with the Rams and Turner's numbers with Alabama last season, it’s hard to imagine the Falcons not selecting the Alabama edge with the eighth-overall pick.